The Car Connection Expert Review

PETIT JEAN, Arkansas — Twisting down a
narrow string of blacktop etched into ramparts of Petit Jean Mountain
overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, a prototype edition of a new compact
coupe cuts clean lines through curves at a quick clip without protest from
tires.

Through these cliff-bound esses, the tester maintains a flat and stable
position with little concession to lateral forces of motion and virtually no
body roll, the result of a stiffly braced unibody structure with independent
suspension components installed at all corners.

Steering, firm but responsive due to a rack-and-pinion arrangement, feels
tight and precise, like an import.

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Throttle power, lurking beneath the right foot pedal, proves too much for the
curves on Petit Jean and requires reins now and then through the left pedal,
which links to four disc brakes and an on-board computer with wheel-spin sensors
to regulate wheel lock and traction controller.

Coming off the mountain on Highway 154 into flats along the Petit Jean River,
speed builds on long rural straights, with tires seemingly glued to road. This
one glides over rough spots of irregular pavement and settles down to click off
some fast travel miles.

In an ongoing assessment, the car clearly possesses the poise and manners of
imports, yet a check of lineage shows it comes from the ranks of General
Motors.

Call it Alero. In coupe and sedan styles, it replaces Achieva as high-volume
compact in Oldsmobile's fleet.

Built on a long and broad new chassis and equipped with independent
suspension plus disc brakes with standard anti-lock and traction control, Alero
exhibits clean and distinct exterior lines and has an interior laced with perks
for comfort and convenience in the manner of Japanese cars. It mimics imports so
well, in fact, that you cannot tie any Alero behavior to the loosey-goosey
action of Achieva.

1999 Oldsmobile Alero

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EMULATING THE IMPORTS

Emulating imports was no accident in Alero's development, as the car
obviously aims at those who favor foreign wheels. From the outset, designers
benchmarked several Japanese cars for performance, ride quality and handling,
comfort and styling characteristics, then created a new kind of Oldsmobile to
match or exceed those vehicles in the various selective areas.

Consider it the latest evidence of a product revolution occurring at
Oldsmobile, which at the beginning of the 1990s appeared to be withering with
sagging sales due to too many aging clone cars shared by other GM brands. Since
introduction of the Aurora flagship four years ago, however, new domestically
produced Oldsmobiles, like the midsize Intrigue sedan, measure up to the best
imports coming ashore from Europe and Asia.

Alero confirms Oldsmobile's product revolution and prompts a re-evaluation of
conceptions about the way that these cars handle.

"Beginning with the exterior form, we wanted an uncluttered but distinct
design for Alero which sets it apart from all else and signals that this isn't
just another car out of a GM mold," says Alero's chief designer, Kip Wasenko,
who tagged along during several test drives.

RAKISHLY SPORTY

Initial plans for Alero called for a car fashioned from the same structure as
Chevrolet's Malibu sedan, but Wasenko confided that overall dimensions and shape
of such a family car did not work with the type of dynamic and sporty lines he
hoped to achieve with Alero. Thus, Wasenko proposed a switch to a lower platform
— the one supporting Oldsmobile's Cutlass sedan — and the ultimate fluid lines
evident on Alero trace to that switch.

Alero looks rakishly sporty, with its wedge-shaped profile and a low-slanted
prow marked by twin aero-style headlamps and a smooth wrap of color-keyed
bumper.

The windshield tilts back dramatically as a flat roof caps at the sharp angle
of strong C pillars followed by a curt tail. Bodyside bulges and big tires
contribute to the statement of sportiness.

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1999 Oldsmobile Alero

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Alero's 107-inch wheelbase length implies a compact-size platform, although
the interior feels and functions more like a midsize model.

CLASS-LEADING FEATURES

It also packs aboard a long list of class-leading features, including an
automatic transaxle, but for prices that seem extremely competitive.

The entry-edition Alero GX as coupe or sedan with four-cylinder engine, for
instance, reaches market for figures that hold below $17,000, while the top GLS
edition with V-6 engine goes for less than $21,000.

The General Motors plant packs twin cams on top with revised camshaft timing
and enlarged displacement to 2.4 liters. These changes increase midrange torque
for better launch and more lively action in lower gears, and they also boost
fuel efficiency.